The cruise was not a very good experience for us.
When travel agent was selling us the ship, we were told us it is comparable to the royal caribbean fleet. We came in this ship expecting similar conditions for the ship and we were ... Read More

The cruise was not a very good experience for us.
When travel agent was selling us the ship, we were told us it is comparable to the royal caribbean fleet. We came in this ship expecting similar conditions for the ship and we were shocked by the general condition and the lack of cleanliness. He did not sell this as an inferior quality cruise liner.
When we complained at the reception desk we were told to wait to the end of the cruise and express our thoughts in the opinion survey.
About the ship - Horizon: Ship itself is old and run down, probably should be retired. With alleged major refurbishment in 2012 only certain areas looked acceptable and that did not include cabins.
About our cabin: bathroom smelled like urine 90% of the time, vanity top pealing, cabin AC not working, bathroom light not working, the showers were mildewy, furnishings dated and worn out, towels had seen better days, carpet was filthy and with stains
It was very noisy in the rooms, we could hear our loud neighbors, as well as people calling on each other from the hallways.
The majority of the passengers were spaniards and they are loud!
Most passengers did not use the disinfectant machines
People smoke almost everywhere outdoors
The staff was friendly and helpful.
The value for money was poor compared to what is on offer elsewhere. Read Less

We have been on 31 cruises but this was our first time on a Pullmantur ship. We liked the idea that it is a Spanish cruise line since my husband speaks Spanish fluently. The cruise price included gratuities and all beverages so it was a ... Read More

We have been on 31 cruises but this was our first time on a Pullmantur ship. We liked the idea that it is a Spanish cruise line since my husband speaks Spanish fluently. The cruise price included gratuities and all beverages so it was a better value than a hotel. The itinerary included two Greek Islands that we had not been to before.
Pullmantur's Horizon is an older ship but the maintenance was good. Our deluxe balcony cabin was very comfortable with more closet space than many newer ship. The room steward was exceptionally good to the point where we tipped him even though the gratuities were inclusive in the cruise price.
We found the food to be quite good. The first day we walked into the buffet for lunch and I went to the hand sanitizer machine and put my hands under it, pushed a button, and felt really stupid when a pat of butter fell into my hands from the automatic butter dispenser (clever machine). Other reviewers have commented that there was no butter served but I found it the first day. In the dining room each table had a bottle of virgin olive oil which was perfect for dipping the rolls and delicious breads that were served. My husband is not an adventurous eater, but he always found something on the menu that he liked.
The entertainment was good. One night the production staff did a Mama Mia/Abba show that was so good that we skipped dinner and sat thought the second (repeat) show. We went to most of the musical shows and found them to be delightful. Even with my minimal understanding of Spanish, I understood the humor.
It was Easter Week and the ship was loaded with young students. The morning music poolside was more upbeat than we preferred with our first cup of coffee, but other than that, it was fun to see the future cruise addicts enjoying themselves. The bar staff at the pool bar we kept very busy, but the students were well behaved and respectful. It was a treat for us to be able to go to any bar and get a soda, beer or cocktail without a charge. I liked the Cava and house red wines. We met interesting people from Europe as well as from South America and the Caribbean.
It was a relaxing with no pressure to buy things or to tip. We would definitely cruise with Pullmantur again. Read Less

Pullmantur Horizon was chosen for this Suez Cruise for the value, the lesser single supplement and the opportunity to enjoy the Spanish cuisine. The ship, although relatively elderly, is in excellent condition and certainly well-built, ... Read More

Pullmantur Horizon was chosen for this Suez Cruise for the value, the lesser single supplement and the opportunity to enjoy the Spanish cuisine. The ship, although relatively elderly, is in excellent condition and certainly well-built, giving no ominous creaking and swaying. My cabin was a 4 bed room and very comfortable. The public rooms, elevators, deck areas, buffets, dinning areas are well appointed and maintained. Service is of the highest degree, with smiling responses to questions, helpful in all cases.
The ports of call were limited due to the location of the cruise. The transit of the Suez Canal itself was the high point of the cruise, and we had a full daylight transit. The port of Salalah was not an exciting visit. Visits to Khasab, Muscat, and Aqaba were adequate and interesting. One glaring problem for cruisers was the lack of information on port services; if shuttle buses were provided and general tourist information for the area. Pullmantur (as other cruise lines do) should provide adequate and correct information for passengers to exit the port area. Pullmantur did not offer any information, and, when questioned, often gave incorrect, conflicting information.
The lectures and structured features for English speakers were very limited. In fact, the one lecture directed to the English passengers turned out to be a rant against Donald Trump by the speaker Fani Lopez, totally inappropriate and insulting to American and other passengers. This was the one poor occurrence on this cruise and will not be ignored.
The cuisine experience was exceptional. Spanish regional foods and dishes were available at all meals. Wonderful displays of cheese, deli meat were available at all meals. The buffet was open at breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a full menu and good variety of meat and fish dishes. The dining room was open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a combination of buffet and service. Options of mix and match dishes were possible at dinner, upon request.
The beverage policy included was very adequate. Specialty coffee selections, cocktails, wine, beer, cava were available.
Entertainment options seemed to be more geared to the Spanish speakers. Bingo was a popular feature for all.
The cruises offered by Pullmantur are certainly worth considering, especially for solo travelers. An increased enrichment lecture series for the English speakers is sorely needed and certainly can be easily remedied. Read Less

Had the pleasure of travelling in the Arabian Gulf on MV Horizon, it was outstanding even though the ship is 30 years old it is still a good ship and the service is exceptional, food very good , service great and the advantage of free ... Read More

Had the pleasure of travelling in the Arabian Gulf on MV Horizon, it was outstanding even though the ship is 30 years old it is still a good ship and the service is exceptional, food very good , service great and the advantage of free drinks was a nice touch. The shows were great, everything is done in Spanish and English, majority of crew are Pilipino so no problem, compared to the opposition MSC who I have travelled with out of Durban several times, always a disaster and terrible food, there is no comparison, Pullmantur really goes the extra mile. I thought the food quality was only because of the ship going out of Durban but after hearing the horrendous stories from passengers from two MSC ships in the Arabian Gulf they all complained about the bad food on their MSC ships and this stunned me. Seeing a certain South African travel agency loves to run Pullmantur down and I have now had first class experience to it not being true. I now throw out a challenge to the CEO of MSC if the comments made by several of your passengers is not being true show me that this is not the case.
You want a great cruise try Pullmantur you won’t be sorry we met several UK passengers who were on their 3 trip on Pullmantur so that’s good enough to hear the positives, Read Less

We wanted a local cruise since we live in the Middle East and saw that a lot of cruises start in Dubai. After some research, we saw that Pullmantur was by far the cheapest option and, after further digging, couldn't really find out a ... Read More

We wanted a local cruise since we live in the Middle East and saw that a lot of cruises start in Dubai. After some research, we saw that Pullmantur was by far the cheapest option and, after further digging, couldn't really find out a lot about the ship, her cabins, onboard food, etc. What we did find sounded discouraging but, being the unfussy folks that we are, we thought, "Let's give them a try".
I'm glad we did. It was an excellent cruise. We arrived at DXB and took a taxi straight to the Port Rashid cruise terminal. We hopped out and found virtually no one there. It transpires that Pullmantur keep the Horizon in port between cruises for two whole days, meaning, statistically, half of the cruisers embark/disembark on one day and half on the other. You can rock up virtually any time. For us, it took about 10 minutes from taxi to being on board. It may be longer if you arrive with a plane load of Spaniards from Madrid, but we were locals so it was very pleasant. We wandered around the ship for about half an hour and then went to our cabin. Our bags were already there. Best embarkation we have ever experienced.
We were very pleased by the quality of food. Both the main dining room and buffet offerings were tasty and varied with only a few, small misses. The free drinks package definitely makes you feel like you're getting good value and we found the wait staff invariably friendly and helpful.
The only staff that we didn't feel the joy from were the cabin staff, which is quite unusual from our experience. We can only think that they were overworked since we rarely saw them, they couldn't/wouldn't tidy the room at the same time each day and sometimes said they would come at a particular time and simply didn't.
We didn't make use of the excursions as we knew the area well. We found the gym adequate but small. Fortunately, our fellow cruisers didn't seem to like exercise all that much so we had the run of the place.
Can't comment on the entertainment as we found the timings good for Spaniards (i.e. late 2300!!) but not good for our sleeping patterns.
All in all, a great but short outing for us. As I indicated, it's not a luxury ship but you certainly get your value and it is by no means a third rate line/ship. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Read Less

The staff made it awesome! Special Thanks to Alberto, Marco (Restaurant) & Carlos (bicycle) who Made our holiday GREAT!
The All inclusive drinks were more than enough, with Good coffee & Nice cocktails :)
Rooms are okay, ... Read More

The staff made it awesome! Special Thanks to Alberto, Marco (Restaurant) & Carlos (bicycle) who Made our holiday GREAT!
The All inclusive drinks were more than enough, with Good coffee & Nice cocktails :)
Rooms are okay, big enough but a little old fashioned.
Food is better than expected, extensive and Good quality at the buffet. The choices at the a la carte restaurant are Good! Even for a vegetarian!
But again, the staff Made the experience awesome!!
We embarked at Kashab, fujara and muskat. Cute villages, were you have to do an excursion, otherwise you”ll wonder around with not much to do. So! Go cycling!!! Carlos and Joel do great tours, with a lot of fun and sightseeing :))
In Abu Dhabi and Dubai is So much to do! Just take a cab and drive around these imposant cities!
In forehand we did not expect much (went cruising before on Costas and H-A-line) but this cruise with pullman, was Really Nice! But again: you’ve Gotta love the staff!! :) Read Less

We normally sail Norwegian, and have also sailed Royal Caribbean a few times. Our reason for choosing Pullmantur for this trip was solely cost - the cruises with this line are often very competitively priced. We are a couple in our mid ... Read More

We normally sail Norwegian, and have also sailed Royal Caribbean a few times. Our reason for choosing Pullmantur for this trip was solely cost - the cruises with this line are often very competitively priced. We are a couple in our mid 30's from Scotland.
Our travel agent warned us that this is an old ship, that we're not paying much to travel with, and to set our expectations accordingly. We read through details of the ship and noted the key differences - that there is one main dining room, no choice of restaurants, and only a small selection of bars. We also noted that entertainment is in Spanish.
We both absolutely loved this cruise. It is one of the most relaxing cruises we've ever had - and we will definitely be booking Pullmantur again. However, this cruise will not be for everyone, and it's important to appreciate that this Pullmantur is different - not necessarily better or worse.
I will make some comments that seem judgemental - they are. These are my honest observations, and your feelings on the subject are likely to be different:
The line is not American - which is strange, since Royal Caribbean own 49% of it, apparently.
The passengers on Pullmantur are far less entitled than on American lines such as Norwegian and Royal Caribbean - they are happier, more care-free, and I have not seen the entitlement and rudeness shown to staff that I have witnessed on other lines. The staff seem more relaxed, too.
There is no tipping - gratuities are paid with your cruise fare, and are not mentioned at any point during the entire cruise. On the rare occasion you have to pay for something, there isn't even a tipping line on the receipt!
Inclusive means inclusive - you simply ask for a cava, and are given a cava. Nobody takes your card - there is no receipt presented in a folder, there is no opportunity for tipping. You just get your drink, a smile, and you're on your way. This is far more relaxed.
Coffee - any variety - is free. I always resented 'speciality coffee' being charged for even with a premium drinks package on Norwegian. On there Horizon, there is a large (and overstaffed!) coffee shop called Cafe Cafe, which offers a variety of teas and coffees (as well as cocktails, and other alcohol) for free. It's a really relaxed environment.
Photos - they barely bother. It's great! With other lines, you're harassed every damn night at dinner, every time you get off the ship, every time you get on the ship. We had one photo for getting on board, and one at dinner, and that was it - we never saw a photographer again. Ideal.
Food - it's not American. There are no comforting piles of crap. It's largely Mediterranean, sensible portions, and decent quality. I have a food intolerance, and felt really looked after - I can recommend this line for coeliacs. Even at breakfast there is a gluten free area with cakes, bread, a dedicated gluten free only toaster, cereals, etc. They can make the usual adaptations to standard meals, but it's nice not to need to ask.
See where I'm going here? It's not an Amercian line, and they don't nickel and dime you as though you're on one.
So, that's all the things I love about Pullmantur. On to some drawbacks:
Entertainment - this isn't an issue for me, but I know this is important to many cruisers. If you don't speak Spanish, then you will be disappointed. There are no broadway shows. There are things on in the theatre - no idea what, they're all in Spanish.
Gym - this one did irritate me, but, it is what it is - it's crap, and despite limited space, it could be better. There are a few cardio machines - treadmills, static bikes. The bikes are showing their age, and I could feel one of them slipping, this needs proper maintenance. There is a good selection of free weights, but the benches are cramped, so it's just as well the gym wasn't busy on my visits. The choice of machines is bizarre - there are two entirely pointless goodgirl-badgirl machines (leg adducter machines!), which really aren't a good use of space. Replacing them with cables would give far more resource in the small space.
Rooms - a mixed bag! First, I loved the space in my room, although I don't think it can be much larger than a standard ocean-view, it felt bigger, and there was loads more storage, not to mention a proper desk. It feels dated, but solid. The bathroom.... it's functional, it's clean - but looks dated. I can live with clean but dated, however, some people cruise for luxury, and the bathroom... well, it's a bit budget motel. But then, that's the price bracket you're paying.
Casino - I hate the things; they're vulgar. The casino on this ship is tiny, and for once, is non-smoking! I have nothing nice to say about casinos anyway, but if I was into them, this casino would be underwhelming. Given that few people seemed to use it, clearly other passengers feel the same.
That's it for drawbacks.
Some random observations:
I love the staff. They are kind, honest, and genuine. They do not have the false happy-smiley thing going on with American lines. No disinterested "How are you" type questions. They provide efficient, friendly, polite service, without the faux-customer service you'll see elsewhere. They will go out of their way to help you - even when you don't ask for help. For example, bar staff will often recommend a free house spirit rather than a premium drink.
Overall, I don't feel sold to - I feel I have been on a relaxing holiday. We will be sailing with Pullmantur again, but not exclusively. They are not a premium line nor a luxury line - they're an honest company that'll provide a relaxing holiday. Read Less

for the Itinerary - I never did the Greek Islands before, so this time I tried to "link-up" NINE Cruise Segments, starting on 1st October in ATHENS and finishing on 8th December in DUBAI.
There were several "double" ... Read More

for the Itinerary - I never did the Greek Islands before, so this time I tried to "link-up" NINE Cruise Segments, starting on 1st October in ATHENS and finishing on 8th December in DUBAI.
There were several "double" Segments through some of the Greek Islands, which gave me the opportunity to visit Ports twice or more = so that was a good experience.
Unfortunately, this Ship caters mainly for the Spanish Package Deal Market, so everything is in Spanish - some Shows are (Only) in Spanish, and some of the English Announcements are hard to understand.....
Whenever I book, I always opt for the cheapest INSIDE Cabin, so even though I had booked the 9 Cruise Segments on the same day - there were NO Upgrades - in fact I had to change Cabins after every Segment.
What "riled" me, was one night when I wanted to eat in the Main Restaurant and ordered my Meal with the Waiter, I requested some GREEN Vegetables to go with the Meal, to which the Waiter flatly refused - NOT AVAILABLE!!! So after such a negative attitude, I took my meals at the Buffet Restaurant, where I could "help myself" to whatever Vegetables were available, even though many times only COLD Green Vegetables were there on offer.
Another Negative point was, that the Dinner Plates were COLD, sand the food presented was also only "warm" or Cold - so I asked the Chef's there to re-heat the plate???? Which is not saying much for the quality of the Food or the Service.
AND, the "COMPULSORY" Gratuity charge came to about 1000 EUROS!!!! With such a mediocre Service - this was a total RIP-OFF!!! Read Less

From Sep 17 to 24, 2018, we took a 7-night, all-inclusive Greek Island cruise on Pullmantur Cruise Line's ship Horizon. We chose it for stellar itinerary, smaller ship, and price--and loved it.
Pullmantur is based in Madrid; 90% ... Read More

From Sep 17 to 24, 2018, we took a 7-night, all-inclusive Greek Island cruise on Pullmantur Cruise Line's ship Horizon. We chose it for stellar itinerary, smaller ship, and price--and loved it.
Pullmantur is based in Madrid; 90% of clients are Spanish. Horizon's an older ship; sun loungers, cabins, furniture could use an upgrade. But for the price we found it fine. We've been on Regent and other ultra-luxe venues and while they're glorious, trips like this cost 3 or 4 times as much--some for a lesser itinerary. [Photo 1: Pullmantur Horizon from dock] [Photo 2: Horizon Pool & Sunset
We used the money saved to book a whole second week in Greece on land--in Naxos and Athens--plus two great private excursions from Athens, before and after sailing. Before sailing on Sep 17 we visited the Temple of Poseidon & Cape Sounio Beach, 45 minutes south of Athens, and on Sep 24 we saw the Corinth Canal.
We boarded Horizon at 4 pm in Athens' port of Piraeus after a wonderful morning at Cape Sounio Sep 17. Check-in was a breeze. We walked out of our cabin 1058 and steps away found an ocean view aft lounge on Deck 10. Then, right upstairs on Deck 11, delicious snacks and drinks awaited in the ship's buffet and aft Ocean-view Grill.
In fact, there were ocean-view rear decks on all four top decks 9 thru 12, with quiet sitting space, sunsets or moon rises--often empty except for us. [Photo 3: Deck 10 Aft Lounge] [Photo 4: Deck 11 Aft Ocean-view Grill]
At 8 pm we sailed for Mykonos, Volos, Chania (on Crete), Santorini, Nafplio (aka Nauplion), and back to Piraeus. Kudos to Pullmantur for a great schedule: each port was more stunning than the last. We'd go ashore, say “We want to stay here a week, it's so gorgeous,” then at the next port, we'd say it again. By Day 4 we were in “beauty overwhelm.”
On Horizon, with only 1,820 guests, we always found loungers. Maybe not at the pool Deck 11, but there was always both shade or sun on the large wrap-around Deck 12 (if starboard was in the sun, port was in the shade, etc.) With fewer cruisers, it was easy and relaxed to disembark and re-embark. Yes there's only one pool; I prefer that larger space. But yes, it's a European ship, so people smoke almost everywhere outdoors (never indoors). Yet with so much open deck, we always found loungers away from the smoke. Whatever seating you want, just keep walking around Deck 12 and you'll find it.
European set dining room times are late: 7:30 and 9 pm. But from 5 to 7 pm, drinks at the pool bar and buffet bar flowed, and we always found food at the aft Ocean-view Grill, Deck 11.
Did I mention “all-inclusive”? Our ocean-view cabin with large window (not a port hole), all-inclusive dining, unlimited beer, wine, cava (good dry Spanish champagne), well drinks, coffees and all gratuities, came to $3,000 grand total for two, as a special from Vacations to Go. So we sprang for the highest level of trip insurance, another $396, which also covered airfare. [Photo 5: Our cabin #1058, Deck 10, Superior Oceanview, Midship]
No one ever asked for our drink cards or any payment, and no tips. We tipped anyway because the staff were so kind, helpful, and honestly friendly; 98% spoke good English. Most staff were from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Our cabin steward Dorian Gusman was terrific, and I loved our Mauritian waitress and Brazilian sommelier; I really regret losing my notes with their names
Yes, Pullmantur announcements are in Spanish, and incomprehensible English. Yes, entertainment is in Spanish. No, excursions were not included, and no guarantee of English on any excursion–but we heard from English speakers that their guides happily translated for them. Anyway, we usually do our own excursions; more fun. And we just had no time for night life.
We needed our sleep to rise early, visit the extensive breakfast buffet with all sorts of egg and cheese dishes—and love those chocolate croissants—and take it to the ocean-view Grill to eat (why stay inside?) Then get on with our day.
Horizon had solid Spanish food in the formal restaurant and the identical fare at the buffet: lots of grilled meats and seafood. Plenty of veggie dishes, too. It's not haute cuisine; for that, one pays the luxe lines or specialty restaurants on larger ships. But we didn't care. We'd have a huge breakfast, never felt like lunch (busy running around port or sunning on deck), then enjoyed a large dinner with wine. Note: Horizon only had Greek food on the last night. So we bought "take out" dinners of moussaka in Mykonos and "lamb kleftiko ("stolen lamb”) in Chania, to take back to the ship.
Destinations hopefully follow below. Tip: Before any Greek Island cruise, check each port's website and WhatsInPort to see how many ships will be in port, then do the advance homework to plan around any crowds or just stay on the ship at the pool. [Photo 6: Replica of Jason's Argo, Volos] [Photo 7: Fast Line to Oia, Santorini] Read Less

The pullmantur cruise was very awesome .There was a very good service
An amazing experience,
We had A lot of fun together ,it was a pleasure being a part of the pullmantur cruise. we enjoyed our selves very much .there were ... Read More

The pullmantur cruise was very awesome .There was a very good service
An amazing experience,
We had A lot of fun together ,it was a pleasure being a part of the pullmantur cruise. we enjoyed our selves very much .there were fantastic activities .Everyone was very friendly (including :the room service, the receptionist,the waiters in the restaurant , the photographer. )
We also enjoyed our selves in the swimming pool, the jacuzzi. There were very different kind of food which were very tasty if it was breakfast,lunch or dinner .it was beautiful looking at all the different dress codes from every day ,the parties were very fun .also it was very relaxing when you sat on the deck and just watching the beautiful blue sea water. sometimes you could see airplane passing from there .the entertainment group of the ship was very spontaneous so were the passengers too and the organization was top Read Less

The cruise was not a very good experience for our group. I think if you have any other non spanish speaking cruisers who want to go on this cruise you need to discourage them. If you didn't speak spanish you didn't know what ... Read More

The cruise was not a very good experience for our group. I think if you have any other non spanish speaking cruisers who want to go on this cruise you need to discourage them. If you didn't speak spanish you didn't know what was going on, and the crew members where rude and actually ignored us because we didn't speak spanish. The entertainment was all in spanish. When you said it was own by a spanish group, I didn't think the entertainment, the annoucements and basically everything was in spanish. We were literally a minority on this ship. It got to be comical when we found somebody who actually spoke english. One of the people in the group purchased the internet package, which she had trouble with all the time. She went to the IT desk and they supposedly fixed it but it was only fixed for a few hours. She then went to the Customer Service desk who told her she would have to go to the IT desk. When she said she already did that and just kind of shrugged their shoulders. She replied by saying aren't you customer service, you need to fix this or refund my money. I don't think they ever fixed it. The ship was a diseaster, the rooms where falling apart. In our cabin, the drawers on the desk were screwed shut (2 of them) the rug was splitting at the seams and the TV was positioned where you couldn't watch it from the bed. My daughter had to wear shoes to get up to the bunk because the ladder was not made for bare feet. As far as the cabin steward, I have no idea who it was. We never saw him, the only thing he did was make our bed. I am use to the bed being turned down with some kind of towel animal with maybe a chocolate or note. Not this cruise. We usually cruise with Carnival and thought they were low class, but this ship took the cake. They say the drinks are included, which means there is no bar service around the pool. You have to go to the bar and get a drink and if you didn't speak spanish, forget it you were last on the service list. Also, the variety of drinks themselves was minimal. If you paid the extra $14 euro per day you could get what you wanted. But, if you didn't, you were stuck with liquor brands that I have never heard of.
The food was also terrible. I am not a picky eater but the food was less quality than fast food. The breakfast buffet was watery eggs, uncooked bacon and I had to actually ask for butter. Who doesn't put butter out for breakfast. Also, If you wanted milk, you had to ask for it or get it out of the Urn that people where using to get for their cereal. Luckily, we were not on the ship for lunch and ate good while we were on the islands. The dinner selection was basically the same every night except they had 1 different dish daily. If you didn't like that, then you ate the same thing all week. The service in the dining room was terrible. I don't think you should have to ask for more water/drinks and again butter for the rolls. For all the cruises that I have been on (probably 10 to 12), all served soft serve ice cream 24 hours a day, not this cruise. There was no ice cream anywhere other than the dining room at dinner. I could go on and on about how bad this cruise experience was. I don't normally complain, but this time I think I will post on Cruise critic so future cruisers will be aware. Read Less

We were originally sailing with friends on Royal Carribean last year but had to cancel for chemotherapy. So this year the prices had risen way more than expected so after searching we find Pullmantur at a very reasonable price and a better ... Read More

We were originally sailing with friends on Royal Carribean last year but had to cancel for chemotherapy. So this year the prices had risen way more than expected so after searching we find Pullmantur at a very reasonable price and a better itinerary. We enjoyed the Horizon, it was comfortable , clean the staff were great and it exceeded all our expectations. The food was good,we had nice people on our table which was very international, though we found the Spanish people very happy and nice. Our verandah cabin was great. The excursions we chose were really enjoyable and reasonable. The Spa was good. We went to a couple of shows which were quite good. We very much appreciated that beverages were included, we dont drink a lot but did enjoy not having to worry about cost.
We are converted to Pullmantur and hopefully in 2020 we can enjoy another cruise for our Golden wedding. As seniors living in Australia its expensive to get to Europe or Carribean so we cant do every year(but if we win Lotto we certainly would be on Pullmantur regularly)
We didnt realise there were so many young adults on board till our second sailaway when the party on our top deck began round the pool and it was madness-there must have been many sore heads BUT it really wasnt a niuisance to us, we just carried our drinks to our verandah cabin on the same deck and enjoyed the view Read Less

We were told we could embark at 10.00 am as we had already booked in online. We had to wait until 10.35 to get upstairs into another queue where we were told that we would have to wait for 5 minutes. We got onboard the ship at 11.00 am ... Read More

We were told we could embark at 10.00 am as we had already booked in online. We had to wait until 10.35 to get upstairs into another queue where we were told that we would have to wait for 5 minutes. We got onboard the ship at 11.00 am which was the earliest we have every been able to embark on a ship. On our first day we were asked at least 6 times did we want to purchase a drink's upgrade and then every day after that. This is simply harassing the passenger. People are on holidays and can not be bothered listening to sales pitches. It is very off putting. We have sailed previously with NCL, Holland America and Celebrity X and found all of these cruise lines superior to Pullmantur. In our opinion the Horizon should be scrapped. The exterior is grubby, black soot billowing from the chimneys, I got stains on my clothes on a few occasions. The ladies public toilets are a no go zone. One was constantly flooded and out of order. There are not enough ladies toilets. I ended up going to my cabin as the public toilets were so bad. The bar stools at the bar in the Casino are impossible to sit on without sliding off, they are too small and uncomfortable. There is no "washy, washy" people on this ship to cleanse hands and the tables are not wiped down, which means they can get sticky. I was worried about bugs being passed on but fortunately we were not struck down by illness.
The food was good. There were lots of vegetarian options at the buffet. We did not eat in the Dining Room as Delisiaz suited me better. It would be better if dishes were labelled if vegetarian/vegan friendly as I had to constantly ask the chef if dishes contained dairy products. The wine was poured in glasses and sitting ready to go which was a good idea. The coeliac, vegetarian corner was a good idea and soya milk was available which was great. On other cruises this usually had to be asked for. My husband loved the coffee in the cafe which was free, this is always charged for on other cruises. The bar waiters were pleasant, some of the barstaff were solemn. Read Less

I had read a few recent good reviews and also some pretty bad ones. I booked the cruise to meet and celebrate my brother's 50th birthday.
Booked well in advance through Vacations to go. I got great service from them, a superb price ... Read More

I had read a few recent good reviews and also some pretty bad ones. I booked the cruise to meet and celebrate my brother's 50th birthday.
Booked well in advance through Vacations to go. I got great service from them, a superb price and no single supplement.
I worked in the travel industry for many years and have been on various cruise lines, including Silver Seas, Swan Helenic Crystal etc.
So, I had a realistic idea of what to expect for the price paid, which was expect a few faults, maybe a small cabin, mediocre service and entertainment.
Well, the ship exceeded all my expectations.
Old but Gold.
Big, well furnished inside cabin, a largish bathroom, plenty cupboard space, TV with many channels if you needed to watch it. Lots of electric sockets.
The formal dining room served excellent food, although you had to ask for more vegetables and for butter with your bread. The soups and salads were tasty, the fish, meat etc also of a good standard and also the puddings.
The buffet selection was vast and also had some stand out dishes, the carvery being one of them.
Plenty of space even on the days at sea. Excursions were very well run and keenly priced.
Embarkation and Disembarkation was quick and efficient in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The basic drinks package is ample.
3 small minus points. Entertainment in the main theater was awful. Saying that the musicians in the other bars etc were good.
The crew are too eager to sell you the upgrade drink package.
Agadir is not a good destination, please consider another canary island instead. This was mentioned to me by various people on the cruise of different nationalities. Read Less

When I originally booked this cruise I was not expecting too much as it was such a good price. It was a week cruising the Canary Islands and Morocco for under 400 euros per person all inclusive and we literally thought if it got us around ... Read More

When I originally booked this cruise I was not expecting too much as it was such a good price. It was a week cruising the Canary Islands and Morocco for under 400 euros per person all inclusive and we literally thought if it got us around the ports then it was a good deal, but we did not expect a lot from the food and drink at that price. we had sailed on the ship about 9 years previously as Island Star and knew it would be an old ship, but we had very much liked it, we like the smaller ships and we knew it had undergone a recent refurb so decided to give it a go.
We were very pleasantly surprised! This was a fabulous cruise from start to finish. With Pullmamtur there was the option to check in on line and when we arrived at the terminal we were checked in and on board within 10 minutes, very efficient! The ship is looking lovely and you would not think she was as old as she is. We had an outside superior cabin for three adults which I had expected we may need to upgrade on board but it was very spacious and loads of storage space - 2 double wardrobes and 24 drawers along with lots of mirrors!!! We asked for extra coathangers and were provided very quickly with an extra 20 so no problems with cabin space at all (although I am happy to sleep on a bunk, some may not like this but the bunk was not actually over the double bed which was huge). The cabin and the public rooms were spotless.
The food is probably amongst the best that we have had on a ship and I have sailed with many lines. The buffet restaurant on the lido deck had a fantastic array of fresh salads and vegetables, a wide variety of hot mains, pizzas, paellas, deserts and every lunch there was a special carvery....the first day it was whole roasted salmons baked in salt, they did whole roast hake one day, the biggest beef joint have ever seen, roast turkeys and we were very impressed that they managed to mass produce pork with fabulous crispy crackling, not an easy task! The buffet is open breakfast lunch and dinner, we chose to eat breakfast and lunches there, and dinner in the main dining room. If you go to the lido buffet you need to find your own table whereas if you go to the main dining room the waiters seat you and get the drinks for you, but apart from that it is the same food and same buffet style for lunch and breakfast. It could be a slight scrum for a table if you hit busy time in the lido, eg when all of the trips were returning, but the opening hours were long and once you had your table everything was very nicely laid out and no queues. One thing Pullmantur do which we thought was a great idea is to have little paper discs on the table, green on one side, red on the other. If you dont want your plates cleared and are returning to your table you put the card to red so no helpful waiter clears it whilst you are returning to the buffet to get something else, meaning that one of you does not need to stand guard over your table the whole time....a simple idea but so effective!
The main dining room is very spacious and never seemed over crowded. We were on first sitting which was 7.30pm. The second sitting at 9.45pm would have been too late for us, but fortunately about 2/3 of the passengers are Spanish and seemed to like to eat late so there was no issue with getting an early sitting. You have the same table number and dinner companions for the week at dinner, and they ensure they sit the same nationalities together. The evening menus were imaginative and delicious and just the right portion slices. Very impressed with the quality of the meats and fish, when it said red snapper it was, when it said John Dory it was ( we have experienced in the past o sone ships the same white fishes being served every night in different guises!). They did not seem to serve vegetables but you only needed to ask and they would provide.
I have to say that the service from the Chefs and the Head Waiter was fantastic, I am on a very restrictive diet and have a lot of allergies. The head waiter Mahreshi took this all in his stride, he would check with me every meal what I would like for the next meal, and whatever I came up with he miraculously produced with a minimum of fuss. He was so attentative, never made me feel like I was being difficult, his customer service was fantastic and I felt very well looked after.
There is no afternoon tea on this ship wbich we actually prefer. Sometimes you can feel over faced by food on board ships. We found there was always food available but it wasnt in your face and we ate extremely well.
The cruise was all inclusive, once on board you could upgrade your package if you wished but we did not need to. The standard gin was gordons, the wine was very nice, a good variety of cocktails was included. But the thing that really impressed us was that the speciality coffee shop was included on the all inclusive too, lovely coffee menu at no extra charge unlike other lines.
In fact we were very impressed by how little extras there were to pay on board. Apart from the gratuities (72 euros per person so reasonable) they did not seem to push you to buy extras all of the time. There was no charge for any of the arts and crafts classes, stretching, dance classes, cooking demonstrations etc. We have found in recent years a lot of lines are now charging for these. And best of all no photographers in your face all of the time! Apart from the embarkation photo we did not see them, they werent snapping you at dinner or every time you got off or on the gangway. You could book a package if you wanted but otherwise the did not encroach...very refreshing!
We had read reviews before hand that the Spanish were constantly partying and loud, we actually did not find this a problem at all. In fact better than an all brit cruise because no one reserved sunbeds or left their towels on them at all so you could always get a bed when you needed it. There are lots of nice lounges on board so there was always somewhere to find if you wanted some quiet time. We loved the cosy library and enjoyed the pura vida lounge in the late afternoon. Bar staff were always on hand and no cards to carry as everyone was all inclusive which made a nice change.
The gym was small but very well equiped. We didnt use the spa but the saunas were free and plenty of treatments available.
The suite guests had a special private lounge which looked lovely, it was the old Captains Club Room from the Island Star Days.
There were various theme nights but they werent enforced. However we found it fun to dress up on Arabian Night. Other nights were the Gala Night, Tropical, 70s 80s and White Night.
After I booked this I realised it was Easter week and we were a little apprehensiveabout how many kids would be on board. However we hardly saw them. There is an on site kids club and the team kept them out of the way and entertained. The only time we did find them was on sea day, the jacuzzis were hogged by unaccompanied young kids. This is one thing I wouldnt like if I was a jacuzzi lover which I am not really, i woukd then want for for the rule of over 16 years only to be enforced.
I have to say that the shows were not our thing, but that is not slating the singing or dancing. They are in Spanish, had they been in English we would probably have been more enthusiastic but we had booked a Spanish Cruise Line so expected that and there were good bands in the public areas so we were quite happy with drinks and cards!
Disembarking and embarking in each port was very painless and well organised, never any queueing
LAS PALMAS enjoyed strolling round the old town, lovely crafty boutiques and unusual shops, cobbled streets, a nice promenade and very reasonable coffee shops! All within walking distance of the ship.
LANZAROTE docked in Areceife at the port furthest from the centre. We had done our research and as we were just there in the afternoon we knew everything in Arecife was shut so we had pre organised car hire from the port for around 50 euros with cicar. We headed to Teguise old town which was very quaint. Then came back through the centre to the coast and Puerto del Carmen which was more touristy but nice for a drink on the harbour side.
FUERTEVENTURA Docked in Puerto del Rossario, walked to the bus station, about 20 minutes away, and took the local bus to Correlejo. Fabulous journey, the route took us up to the national park then along the coast line past the famous sand dunes which were stunning. 3 euros and we felt like we had had a proper tour! Lots of shops and a lovely beach front at Correlejo. Would highly recommend this way rather than the organised transfer for 20 euros.
AGADIR got a local taxi to take us on a tour for a few hours to see some mosques and give us an hour at the beach and lovely promenade. He would have also included the souk and fabric shops which we didnt want so we had an extra 30 min at the beach. Bartered it down to 25 euros for the three of us. Taxis are waiting outside the ship.they will try and charge as much as they think tgey can get so be prepared to haggle, but there was no issues when in the taxi and we felt quite safe although tge local driving is interesting......!
GRAN CANARIA we first walked to the beach which was beautiful but unfortunately too windy a day to appreciate. There is a very long beach promenade to stroll if the weather is good. As it wasnt beach weather we then trecked accross town to a very nice shopping centre, then took a taxi to the old quarter whicb was charming, beautiful architecture and many photo oportunities. Taxis reasonable.
We did not do any ship excursions but they did offer a weeks package to be pre booked that seemed very reasonable, we just like to do our own thing.
Aft cabins do experience some noise when manouvering into port to dock, we are early risers soit wasnt a problem for us. Each night I requested a flask of hot warer and the bell boys brought it to the cabin within minutes.
Disembarkation from the cabins is 8am and cases need to be out by midnight. As we live in Tenerife it was not an issue for us to leave the ship after breakfast but apparently if you stayed after 11am you needed to pay.
The one blip we had was on disembarking. We got to the terminal to discover one of our bags was missing. It was a good half an hour before it was eventually located having been put in the wrong area. The security of the cases in the terminal did not seem to be very efficient, no one was checking very thoroughly who collected what. We approached an agent in a panic and she was very dismissive and did not seem to know what to do. We eventually located toourselves after an anxiousperiod. However I am not sure that she was part of Pullmantur, I think they were the port agency that Pullmantur use.
I have to say that the service on board was excellent. I woukd not hesitate to cruise with Pullmantur again had they an itinerary that catches my eye and would definately recommend them.
Incidently Pullmantur do over 55 years discount.apparently the single supplements are also reasonable. Read Less

I came into this trip with low expectations—we got a great price and figured even if it wasn’t great it would be fine. Never again.
Firstly, the food was dreadful. I have never been on a cruise where I literally couldn’t get eggs ... Read More

I came into this trip with low expectations—we got a great price and figured even if it wasn’t great it would be fine. Never again.
Firstly, the food was dreadful. I have never been on a cruise where I literally couldn’t get eggs how I wanted: if you didn’t want eggs with ham, or fried, you were out of luck. Unfortunately all of the meals—except the captains dinner—were the same every day, and got old very very fast.
Everything onboard was a cash grab. Top shelf liquor or internet is, to me, an acceptable thing to up charge for. Charging for bottles of water in the room, when I have an unlimited beverage package? Cash grab. Having my waiter sell me on a better dinner for the next day at the end of today’s? Cash grab. It’s the little things that make you feel gross.
On top of that, the pool was closed every day—including a day at port when it was 85 degrees with calm seas.
I have no complaints about the housekeeping or dining room staff but training across the bars left a lot to be desired: I couldn’t get juice, because my unlimited beverage package somehow didn’t include it—except it did, at all the other bars.
I had no problems with it being spanish speaking, except that for excisions they couldn’t tell me until 8:00 the day before if they’d have an English tour—which meant I needed to make my own plans, for each port.
The room wasn’t in great shape, but it was acceptable; same for the boat, but for the extra four hundred dollars I’d rather go on a trip where nobody stuffed their hand in my pocket and where I can swim in nice weather. Read Less

This is a port-heavy cruise ideal for those whose primary goal is to get their first taste of the amazing Canary Islands as efficiently as possible and at an affordable price. The crowd was mostly 60+ and Spanish, with a sprinkling of ... Read More

This is a port-heavy cruise ideal for those whose primary goal is to get their first taste of the amazing Canary Islands as efficiently as possible and at an affordable price. The crowd was mostly 60+ and Spanish, with a sprinkling of other Europeans, however, all announcements were made in both Spanish and English and all staff could speak at least some English.
Horizon is an older, mid-sized, refurbished ship, but everything was clean, everything worked properly and service was excellent. Food was plentiful and more than adequate in quality. A large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages was already included in the cruise cost. Entertainment and activities were limited and often in Spanish only, but with so many hours in the ports, we did not really need them.
The islands are amazing, but one must get out of the ports to appreciate their beauty.
In Lanzarote, a ship-organized tour of the Lunar Landscapes of Timanfaya is a must. Other islands are best explored by taxi which are affordable and plentiful. Those who do not speak any Spanish would benefit from reserving English-speaking drivers ahead of time. Read Less

This cruise exceeded my expectations. Very good shows, rooms spacious and comfortable and the food was good. It is an old ship but very clean. Staff were excellent.
The staff were very helpful and efficient. I would have preferred ... Read More

This cruise exceeded my expectations. Very good shows, rooms spacious and comfortable and the food was good. It is an old ship but very clean. Staff were excellent.
The staff were very helpful and efficient. I would have preferred better internet facilities.
The ones offered were expensive so I did not join. It would have been nice to join the internet for an hour.
We booked a standard cabin for three adults. This was far too cramped and I got another cabin having paid a subsidy which I was glad to do.
The ship was very clean and embankment and disembarkment were very easy and well organized.
There were some announcements and I think I would prefer not to have to listen to as they were given first in Spanish and later in English. However, they did not bother me greatly as they were kept to a minimum.
Enjoyable Cruise. Read Less

Decided on going into the sun for one week in February during the winter. We were looking for several land options but the cruise sounded actually better as you can see more destinations. We booked via a tour operator which also included ... Read More

Decided on going into the sun for one week in February during the winter. We were looking for several land options but the cruise sounded actually better as you can see more destinations. We booked via a tour operator which also included airfare and transfers, so in all the package with also the Pullmantur "all inclusive" made this offer a great bargain!
Embarkation can be hectic, in spite of pre-registration, you still need to sign forms. Funny as even the health declaration is forwarded via email to you, so all the nitty-gritty details can be done at home.
Yes, the ship is 30 years old design, it is still a nice ship to sail on. There is maintenance and carpets have been refreshed amongst other things, but it is not sparkling new ship.
Our cabin therefore was renovated but still unchanged in set up from 30 years ago. It is adequate and ok. An other example the gym is very small and not many machines are offered.
We found only very friendly staff: smiling, happy people offering all your all inclusive drinks and food happily! There is also Cafe Mocka, a meeting hotspot, offering excellent espressos, caffe latte, cortados or cuppuchinos (luckily for me NO instant muck!). Breakfast and lunch are buffet style and during busy times even the main dining room is open and set with a buffet. For dinner the MDR (2 seatings) offers you a selection of a la cart specials (set ones) and along some daily specials of 2 starters/main/desserts. As the ship is Spanish focused, most food is geared to Spanish taste: paella for lunch along roasts of leg of lamb, etc. Gazpacho is one of the standard soups, excellent tuna steaks as a daily special or little filet steak for dinner during the gala. For us it was a eat as we consider this food as delicious. There are very few small tables (for 2 or 4 persons, most tables excist of 6 or 8 persons), so you will be asked to share the table. We asked the Maitre 'D and he provided a table for 2.
Entertainment is also focused on Spanish guests, so there is dance band with live music for salsa and cha-cha style dances, a flamingo music style guitar player but there was also the main band playing with several different singers. Many nights they also sing & perform along a dance group at the theatre. The evening show is at 9pm and in between the seatings for the dinner. Most shows are really good, because all is played 'live'; like ABBA or Beatle night. There was also a Spanish story with music & dancing (nice) and a ballet based on recorded classical music (not so nice). But in all, the ship is alive with passengers amusing themselves and having a real good time at all outlets!
There is a casino with gambling machines as I know them from the fairgrounds, where with little money you can gamble.
Excursions are sold in advance and on the ship, it was easy to purchase tickets on-boards but remember, you need to be a crowd of at least 10 pax in order to receive a guide who will speak English on that tour. We have done our tours by ourselves:
- Santa Cruz Tenerife: take local bus 910 to beach Las Teresitas and hired lounge chairs
- Danta Cruz La Palma: as the island deserves a proper visit, we rented a car upon arrival at the terminal and drove to the other coast (60 mts drive), you can drive more around, we just enjoyed the scenic views and stayed there.
- Sea day and enjoyed the sunshine, cafe Mocha and there was the gala night
- Agadir, Marocco: we pre-arranged ourselves via a local hotel (Riad Villa Blanche) a transfer and enjoyed lunch and spa treatments after a visit to the market.
- Arrecife, Lanzarote: rented a car at the pier and drove to the vulcano (45 mts drive).
- Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura: due to wind and less sunny weather we walked around the town and visited a big shopping mall (best mall of all islands).
- Las Palmas, Gran Canaria: we had 12 hours before the evening flight and booked a hotel on the beach (Sercotel Cristina Las Palmas)
We would certainly do this package again but we heard that MSHorizon is going to be placed from Dubai same time next year. Read Less

The ship is old but clean, and it wasn’t Pullmantur’s fault that the weather was bad and the seas rough, at least reception gave out free sea sickness pills. The cabin was large, and the beds comfortable and food better than normal ... Read More

The ship is old but clean, and it wasn’t Pullmantur’s fault that the weather was bad and the seas rough, at least reception gave out free sea sickness pills. The cabin was large, and the beds comfortable and food better than normal cruises. Good dancers, and an excellent trip round Lanzarote due to a fab Brazilian guide.
But, we were under the main restaurant and each night it sounded like a metal barrel rolling above our heads, and the ships engines were very noisy so most nights you woke up. We had first dining (7.30, second was 9.45). The one show was at 9, twice it was for Spanish speakers only, and 5 times the dinner overran the start of the show, once we waited 45m to be served. Hardly any entertainment in the day, most at night. Not enough tables for lunch. Bar staff at two bars rude. Drinks package as all inclusive didn’t, for example, include a gin and tonic, just a gin. The extra drinks package, at 90euros, didn’t include the ‘gin bar’. Things that you expect, eg transfers, or maps at the stopping ports, not included, neither are tips or port taxes which are hefty. It seemed a cheap cruise but actually it wasn’t. Hardly saw staff for first few days, actually thought the upstairs restaurant was self clearing, but that got better by the end. Staff looked fed up. So did the passengers. Queued up with other Brits to complain, which I have never done on a cruise before. WiFi, pretty expensive, didn’t work for over a day and no refund given. Asked for advice from reception re the ports, was told they don’t give maps or advice, check the internet. Problems with disembarking, confusing advice and was booked flights through same company which left at 7pm, was told it would cost another 25 euros per person to stay on boat, so left, got ordinary bus 7.50 e. per person, to airport.
No one from my family, or others we shared dining tables with, would go with Pullmantur again. Have never said that about a cruise line before. Read Less

Our 3rd cruise and a late booking wishing for some winter warmth. However the weather wasn't playing ball. Stormy and windy and being a small ship with poor stability it was rocking!(not in a good way)
Embarkation was easy and ... Read More

Our 3rd cruise and a late booking wishing for some winter warmth. However the weather wasn't playing ball. Stormy and windy and being a small ship with poor stability it was rocking!(not in a good way)
Embarkation was easy and relaxed, however there was over selling of the additional drinks upgrade. We were pitched to 3 times in 30 minutes and stopped additional staff within 1st 12 hours doing the the same. Obvious that being budget and all inclusive the extras are what the boat needs to sell.
The room was clean, adequate but dated. The carpet had a few stains and could do with a good shampoo. The bathroom grouting could do with a refresh. Facilities in bedroom and ensuite sufficient. Cabin attendant was polite and very kind when I was ill in the room.
Entertainment was reasonable. Choreography in the show numbers was lacking, and the two 'spectaculars' were colourful but not artistically technical. Since we were in the Spanish area it would have been nice to see some traditional flamenco or other local dance instead of watered down versions of Spanish dance. Being English spoken the magician/comedian night was a no no. Needs to be rethought. Bands and entertainment in other areas was good but sound was too loud for conversation in the bar areas, and very thumpy!
Excursions was excellently priced, the right amount of time for each one with fabulous tour guides - no complaint there at all!
Well done for the gluten free dining - it was good to see - and the baker made an effort to make me bread so I did not have to eat the pap that comes out of packet too regularly. The only complaint I had was, that quite often the food would come out at a different time to my dining companions which would mean I was a course ahead, or behind them and frequently eating (to prevent food going cold) when they were awaiting a course.
Breakfast buffet was lovely and varied for such a low price. My husband did not enjoy the main dinners as much as they lacked variety and our table needed to order vegetables separately to go with the mains as it was not provided.
Service was varied, some fabulous staff but some who obviously need to up their game, but you need to remember this cruise line is at the lower end of the market and a smaller fish in the sea.
I had a 50 minute massage in the spa which I have to say was excellent, but still pricey - same Elemis range I use in my local spa, but about double the price for the time. However a welcome relaxation.
Overall my husband said it was like his loveable childhood mongrel dog, who was faithful, always there and served a purpose, however for me, I think I need the pedigree! Read Less

What a way to spend Christmas. My friends and I all arrived in Tenerife to spend the festive time on board Pullmantur Horizon and journeying around lovely hot Canary Islands.
All aboard on the 21st December 2017 with our first ... Read More

What a way to spend Christmas. My friends and I all arrived in Tenerife to spend the festive time on board Pullmantur Horizon and journeying around lovely hot Canary Islands.
All aboard on the 21st December 2017 with our first experience of this lovely ship though an elderly lady of the seas ! . The Spanish ran ship has a good mix of British, Spanish and other nationalities. All announcements are first made in Spanish then English. The ship needs continual tender loving care especially on the outer deck areas. Our Cabin was spacious, comfortable and above all squeaky clean. Our luggage arrived speedily which gave us chance to change and explore the ship. Although room service is only once a day this was more than adequate for our needs.
Our first place to seek out was the buffet and pool bar. Very impressed with the quality and layout of the main buffet, not the greatest of choice but the quality was excellent and there is a selection for vegetarians and non gluten guests.
The standard drinks package included in the price was ok but limited on choice. We chose to upgrade for an extra €10 a day and this was really good value for money as we then had a much greater choice of drinks.
We decided as group to eat at the second sitting in the lovely main restaurant. For all the menu has a set choice each evening that does not change, there is a daily À la cart.
We enjoyed our time in the restaurant and aboard ship especially the entertainment in the theatre and above all the friendly atmosphere created by all the members of crew and officers.
This cruise was certainly value for money and I not only recommend it but we will cruise again with them. Read Less

We are an American couple in 40s with a lot of travel experience between the two of us. I booked this cruise because I liked the itinerary of Canary Islands and Morocco. For $600 USD per person, you can't really complain.
SHIP
... Read More

We are an American couple in 40s with a lot of travel experience between the two of us. I booked this cruise because I liked the itinerary of Canary Islands and Morocco. For $600 USD per person, you can't really complain.
SHIP
We knew this was an older ship, so no surprises there. It says it was refurbished in the last 10 years, but I'm not sure you can tell. The carpets, hallways, bathrooms, and dining rooms look dated, but everything is clean and works properly. Eleven decks, all the necessities you'd expect. Pick a different ship if you are expecting luxury.
CABINS
We had an interior cabin that was clean and more spacious than we expected, especially compared to our other cruises. Bathroom in particular was bigger, especially the shower.
We could hear our cabin neighbors as there was no sound protection, and the TV was in an add position bolted to the nightstand desk, which meant if you were lying down you had to turn your head more than 90 degrees to view, but no complaints other than that. Everything was clean and worked.
FOOD
Hit or miss. For our formal dining we were seated at a round table with several other passengers who had arrived that day. It took about 1.5 hours to complete the 3 course meal, and it was very slow. Same staples in the menu daily, then the specials would change. We liked the ceasar salad, mushroom risotto, the lamb (it did not say wrapped in bacon but came that way), and the chocolate mousse. Eventually we got tired of the slow service and checked out the buffet.
Buffet didn't always have enough seats, though you could sit by pool or outdoors if the weather was conducive. Very hit or miss. Exact same salad bar every time. Soups were odd. Meats could be full or gristle and inedible, or the best thing you've had lately. It all depended on how it was cooked or which slice you got. We had some very good lamb, turkey, and pork. We had some inedible beef and overcooked fish that we ended up wasting. We liked the pizza, any kind of waffle fries or thinly sliced potatoes, beets, tortilla wraps, and salmon. Their fries (unless waffle fries) were always soggy, the mashed potatoes was swimming in a crazy amount of truffle oil, and sometimes their veggies were super bland.
DRINKS
We bought the upgraded bracelets. Nothing to write home about. Americans will probably not appreciate the lack of coffee and cappuccino at lunch, etc. We had to go to deck 8 to get ours, even with breakfast, even though we had the bracelets. The wine was okay, mixed drinks a bit dull, nothing to write home about.
GUESTS
International, all ages, couples, solos, families. Announcements in Spanish and English.
SERVICE
Varied. Great at the front desk and tours, great with cleaning cabins. Food service was lacking. Very good at clearing empty plates, often hard to get another utensil or a drink.
PORTS and EXCURSIONS
Gran Canaria-Easy to get a taxi, we found a better deal and did our own. Local all day tours start around $30 Euro per person.
Tenerife- easy to catch a taxi, we did our own local tour as value was better.
Las Palmas- medium to get a taxi, we did our own tour.
Agadir-probably best to do the group excursion or negotiate taxi rates up front as they don't have meters. Quite a walk to get the the first taxi stand.
Lanzarote-way easier to do the group tour, we did the Timfanaya National Park for around $38 EURO per person and it was well organized with a nice coach, no problems.
Fuertaventura- either way you'll be fine.
ENRICHMENT
No comment, we didn't partake.
ACCESSIBILITY
Elevators are small, and folks with wheelchairs and strollers looked like they might be having a hard time negotiating that small of a space. Read Less

It was advertised as a Xmas cruise..Spanish don't do Xmas
As I found out.
The food in the main dining room was strictly rationed.No international cuisine only Spanish.No coffee except on 2nd sitting which commenced at 2145 so ... Read More

It was advertised as a Xmas cruise..Spanish don't do Xmas
As I found out.
The food in the main dining room was strictly rationed.No international cuisine only Spanish.No coffee except on 2nd sitting which commenced at 2145 so who was that catering for almost exclusively Spanish.
The cabin was basic but comfortable.interestingly has 2 bunk beds on the walls..
Just like a car ferry..which basically this was minus cars.
The service was ok and the excursions were overall good value and interesting.
The entertainment was for a Spanish audience and not of high quality.
The bars were few and crowded until 2145 when second sitting started.
I met a number of fellow cruisers who would not travel again on this ship.
It bears no resemblance to a modern cruise ship.
The food was basic and small portions with almost no vegetables or salads and no deviation from starter,main,desert.
There was no coffee,no cheese plate and we were ushered out quickly at 9 to allow 2nd sitting at 2145. Read Less

We chose this cruise as it departed from Málaga Port.
We had received our luggage tags from our agent with our documents a week prior to the cruise so they had already been filled in - with the visa and health forms - so it was just a ... Read More

We chose this cruise as it departed from Málaga Port.
We had received our luggage tags from our agent with our documents a week prior to the cruise so they had already been filled in - with the visa and health forms - so it was just a matter of dropping the luggage off to the staff. This was very quick and easy.
Embarkation process in the terminal could have been more efficient - there were numerous staffed desks but it took approx. 1 hour queuing to get through the lines to the desks !
It didn't help that the staff "managing" the queues appeared to be unaware of where the queues started and finished...this meant that people who were at the "back" of the queue were directed to a new desk opening while those already queuing ahead of them were "stuck" in the queue and just had to wait.!
There was a desk for those who had "checked-in" on line...where you could also choose your embarkation time..but...you still had to go into the queue to get to that desk..so complete waste of time to check in on line..and you still had to repeat check-in process at the desk.!!
As cabin numbers are allocated on the paperwork ahead of check in - it would have been a lot more efficient and less confusing for clients to check in to desks or areas by cabin number.
The ship held numerous security drills for staff so it felt good to know they were prepared if the worst ever happened..although if you were sleeping it was a bit of a rude awakening to the sound of the sirens!
The ship is not new...and there is a slight feeling of it being an older lady of the sea..but the staff appear to work hard and maintenance and cleanliness were not a problem. Just do not compare it to the big luxury cruise ships - it is what it is..
Pullmantur is a Spanish company and so the on-board entertainment is Spanish focused .. however most entertainment could easily be followed (or had reasonable translation into English).
The SPA was small and compact but offered a good selection of treatments. There are different offers and discounts available during the cruise so look for those for value.
There is a hairdresser available but as they wish to promote their treatments then a simple wash and blowdry is quite expensive and I'm sure more people would use the service if priced at onshore salon prices. (43€ for a shampoo, condition, 5 minute head massage (during the shampoo and condition) and a quick slick of eye cream and a brush with some bronzing powder was a bit much).
There was a cooking demonstration on one of the days at sea which was extremely popular..this was really the only time that the presentation could have been better...lots of people meant that it would have been better held in the Theatre but..otherwise a great session..and the food samples were very popular.!
The majority of the staff in the bars were very polite, cheerful and helpful. The staff in the main restaurant - at least at our table (number 27) were excellent.. There is a Gluten and Lactose Free Menu for those who require it..and a couple of times other diners wanted to order Gluten Free for variety. (especially the steaks). :)
The main menu offered a reasonable selection but at times the quantity of the main course was a bit on the small size for the men with larger appetites. We were on the Zenith last year and the food was better (mainly as sides of vegetables and potatoes were a standard offering..none this year).
The buffet and grill offered a selection of cold starters, hot mains and basic desserts each day..you could usually find something but after a week it does get a bit boring..
As usual there was a selection of shore excursions available. Information sheets in English were left in the cabins each afternoon. If no excursion was chosen you could still go ashore and just potter about the local town. NOTE: Do check in time to book coach transfer tickets as except for Livorno they all had to be prepaid and prebooked...not available on the day -
some Ports are 30 minutes walk into the nearest commercial area.
On this ship there is the possibility to download the Pullmantur App - whilst it is to find out information about Pullmantur Cruises it also provides information on daily activities, the layout of the ship and...something which is not promoted..offers a WhatsApp type service from guest to guest. This is idea to find people if they are not in their cabins as you can "check-in" your location. It works without internet so really handy.
Disembarkation was extremely efficient - leave luggage outside cabin before 01.00hrs - receive copy of invoice for any spending on board during the evening - if you have left credit card details and invoice is correct..no need to do anything except wait for your colour code to be called and make your way to terminal..pick up luggage waiting for you and that's it!
All in all an enjoyable cruise - if available again from Malaga - and different ports of call (this time it was - Málaga - at sea - Porto Torres (Sardinia) - Cittavechia (Rome) - Livorno (Pisa & Florence) - at sea - Alicante - Málaga) then I would consider it.
Ratings are based comparing what I would expect at an all inclusive hotel. Read Less